What fun! A Night Ride on a Friday to the Seaside under the guidance of someone called Simon - doesnt that sound familiar? - and with fab peeps - how could I miss out on that? OK so it wasn't an FNRttC - copyright Their Leggships - and so there were a few things missing, like the fact that the Leader didn't have a bandage on his knee (although he was wearing shorts!); like the fact that it didn't have an All Up Wall Nuts at the back, a Claud in the middle and an Adrian at the front; like the fact that it didn't have Bungalows as part of the starter speech! But apart from that it was a fine copy. It did have more mudguards than I have ever, ever seen on a night ride and there were panniers and luggage! So clearly there were some pretty awesomely strong cyclists about who could hare up and down hills no problem. It also had Their Leggships hanging out in the middle of the pack which was a rarity and it had a lot of chatting and laughing (which isnt a rarity, obviously!).
My travel plans were a bit over-enthusiastic as I was heading for Reading a lot before Midnight, arriving at 21.40. This is the train that goes to Claudesville and Reading was the first stop so I reminisced of my weekend on The Gower with TC and User1314. That was a fine time indeed.
At the station were George and Sahar who had been able to take a similar timed train which was brill! Sahar arrived with her new wheels and indeed new wardrobe looking, quite frankly, too cool for school She has clearly been to the Susie School of How to Look Good on a Bike. George of course, looked like - George!!!
We headed towards a pub that had been recommended by a local. As we reached it, three rather large and for lack of better words pi$$Ed-and-listing locals staggered towards us. We all looked at each other, tightening the grip on our bikes and thought better of going to this particular pub. However, behind us were two policemen so I asked them where we could go for a drink where our bikes would be safe and they directed us back into the pub we'd just left! A recommendation from three policeman - this has to be ok. Sure enough it was absolutely more than ok, not only did it happily serve decaf cappuccinos but we were actually allowed to take all our bikes into the pub and rest them against a radiator (switched off)! Excellent!
At 1140, Their Leggships arrived, along with a man called Malcolm and we were joined by AKA Bob who showed us all the way to the Fountain where we met a great group of peeps from CTC land. At midnight, we all followed Simon The Leader out of the city, into the night. It was dark, had been raining and was much colder than I had anticipated or planned for. I was a bit concerned as I really was much colder than I wanted to be and I wasn't getting any warmer. I mentioned this to a couple of peeps and we all carried on. After a while we were going along a human size Scaletrix track for bicycles. I have never seen anything like it. It was on very tall legs, and it criss-crossed above roads. We wended our way to the end, joined a road and carried on. At some stage Susie and I actually cycled past His Leggship who calmly said "I thought you might like this" and he handed me his windproof top from his bag. I took it, slightly bemused as to why I would want it right there and then whereupon within five minutes I was descending a hill at some speed realising how cold I would have been had I not been wearing it. Their Dellzeqqships thoughtfulness, kindness and humour remain at a level unmatched. More than a few times Susie made me laugh so loudly I nearly fell off my bike! Absolutely hilarious all night long.
The only time I found things unfunny was when going up a hill a sandwich I ate at a garage was trying to make a reappearance. Never am I to eat a whole sandwich just before I ride my bike. I stopped pedalling and got off my bike for a bit to recover. About 30 seconds later AKA Bob arrived and got off his bike and gave me sympathy and encouragement so that I could ride up the hill again which I duly did.
Susie of course just road up it as though it was flat. I'm not sure she knows what a hill is anymore. As for Sahar, well she is just taking the mick. Without any effort she just glides up everything - only caught out once by being in the wrong gear whereupon AKA Bob stopped to give her encouragement to the top. My most fave moment was at the bottom of a hill when Sahar just moved to the outside and shot past everyone else including Dellzeqq who called out something like "there she goes" and in an instant she was at the top. Brilliant.
I have no idea where we were but it was a very good place to be. The route was rolling and the sky was clear, clear, clear. The P$""£$"£ Fairy made an appearance whilst we were in complete darkness and the rest of us could all study the sky. Orions Belt, the North Star and a blur of the milky way that I have Someone said they saw a shooting star. We heard an owl.
The sky turned that lovely rich navy inky colour and the sun sent a line of red light across the horizon as though it had been drawn with a lazer. The sunrise was lovely and soon we were heading into Southampton. We past the stadium which had more broken glass than a broken glass factory and then we cycled along a waterside cycle path not unlike the route into Southend - definitely wider tho' which I am happy about. (The first time I rode down that was on Raptobike - not a pleasant experience!)
We rode along the estuary to the ferry and had time for a cup of tea and more chatting. So great to meet fab new people who are all so jolly and happy and love riding their bicycles! The boat trip was fun, there was a bit of "err no please don't leave your bike there, that's for the gangplank"(!) kind of thing. We saw some major big ships and some beautiful yachts.
The day had started, the sun was up and we headed to the New Forest. What a treat! I am not sure of its history, nor why it's named as it is but it was fun to cycle past cows on verges, seeing ponies being rounded up like something out of a Western and past estuaries and bridges. Through villages with thatched cottages, up a hill or two and into Lymington which has to be one of the prettiest places I have been to. We went down to the harbour and sat in a fine establishment that sells brown beer called Blond. I mean no wonder people seem pi**ed. A delicious breakfast was served although not quite in the order ordered but as we waited we focussed on the sunshine and our cycling achievement. I had already cycled 30 miles (no that's not a Susie round up!) before heading to Paddington so whilst we were sitting in the sunshine I enjoyed the fact that I had cycled over 100 miles since I woke up on Friday morning. 76 of those were in mighty fine company and for that, Simon Bird, I thank you - enormously - for putting such a fun ride together. I took some pics which will hopefully be posted soon (although they are my usual rubbish standard, even with my new camera which has only fallen from my bike twice since Ive had it...!)
Thank you to all you - especially to the lovely Backmarkers for being so kind and patient.
Mice..
PS I think I need to highlight my dodgy sense of humour, alongside my enormous enthusiasm for cycling - I don't give a jot who rides what type of bike as long as they are having fun and indeed that they are riding their bike and loving it nearly or even moreso than I love riding my bike - as a caveat to anyone who I might misconstrue anything written in the above post. It was fab to be there and I very much look forward to taking part in another one.
overall a very nice route and beautiful scenery. 
